PhD Scholarship
in Insect Molecular Systematics and Ecology
The University of Adelaide
The Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology & Biodiversity (ACEBB) at the
University of Adelaide, in conjunction with CSIRO Entomology, CSIRO Sustainable
Ecosystems and the Commonwealth Environmental Research Facility National
Taxonomy Research Hub (CERF-NTRH), is offering a PhD scholarship to undertake
a project on the biosystematics and evolution of the ecologically important ant genus
Monomorium. A major aim of the study is to test current morphological species
hypotheses using molecular, ecological and biogeographic data, and to examine the
evolution of life-history characteristics such as diet, social parasitism and nest
structure. The project is being supported financially by the University of Adelaide, the
Australian Biological Resources Study, and the NTRH, as part of a national program
on the systematics of ecological important groups of ants. The project will be based
in Adelaide with the successful candidate undertaking significant fieldwork across
Australia and spending extended periods at the Australian National Insect Collection
(Canberra), and CSIRO Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre (Darwin).
The PhD scholarship will be for three years; it has a stipend above the APA rate of
$22,616 pa, and includes a relocation allowance for interstate candidates. The position
will be supervised by Prof. Andy Austin (Adelaide University), Prof. Steve Donellan (SA
Museum), Dr Alan Andersen (CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems), and Dr Steve Shattuck
(CSIRO Entomology).
Applicants should have a good honours degree in biology, zoology, genetics,
environmental science or a related area, a strong interest in fieldwork and invertebrate
biology, and a keen aptitude for innovative research that integrates genetic and
ecological data.
The position is available from 1 October 2007 onwards, and will remain open until a
suitable candidate has been appointed.
Application forms are available from the Adelaide Graduate Centre website at
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/graduatecentre/scholarships/postgrad/pgforms.html
and
should be submitted with a commentary on their suitability for the project and a curriculum
vitae, by 3 September 2007. Please identify the scholarship in the application form by
completing ‘Other – PhD Scholarship in Insect Molecular Systematics’. Further
information is available by contacting Professor Andy Austin (08-8303-8240 OR
andy.austin@adelaide.edu.au).